Saint Francis Hospice had a strong team of nearly 80 runners last Sunday and their ­efforts raised more than £18,000 for patient care at the 13-mile race organised by the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket.

Many of the fundraising participants were there in memory of loved ones that the charity, which cares for people with life-limiting illnesses, had treated.

Brentwood’s Alan Warner, ran for his dad Peter, who died last September ­after a battle with cancer. He has raised more than £1,000.

He said: “It was my first run and it was hard. My dad’s biggest wish was that he be cared for at home when he died and Saint Francis Hospice put an incredible effort into making that happen so I ran to raise money as a thank you.”

Barry Steadman, 38, from Hornchurch, completed his first run in a respectable one hour 54 minutes. He did so for his mother who received care from the hospice before she died of pancreatic cancer in August. Barry said: “I cannot praise the hospice nurses who tended to my mum enough.”

Some used its as a warm up for the London Marathon next month. One of them was Nicola Quinn who ran the half marathon with her mother Helen, 57.

Both are from Brentwood. Nicola, 34, said: “I’m more positive about running the marathon now.”

Hospice events manager, Lauren Josman, told the runners: “You deserved your medals and the money you raised will make a difference to local people.”

“Where to go for a drink near Great Portland Street?” was previously met with blank expressions and shrugs for those local to the area, not anymore, thanks to the opening of The Refinery at Regent’s Place, the eighth bar and restaurant from hugely-successful group Drake & Morgan.